Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., has emerged as a leading Catholic voice opposing the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Writing as a Protestant clergyman and American historian, I prayerfully commend both Pope Leo and Cardinal McElroy for their Christlike and propheticwitness for justice, righteousness, and compassion.
May their courageous and timely words be heeded and not just heard.
I am so angry and resentful of all these Catholic clergy who are now bemoaning the Trump regime's abuse of immigrants. It's their mulishly single-minded focus on abortion, and their hammering home of it during every homily, that radicalized so many Catholics. I'm a cradle Catholic, taught by nuns (our beloved Presentation Sister), and I grew up with a strong social justice understanding of our faith. I know niw that our Church teaches respect for life, from conception to natural death. But with so many clergy interested in only protecting those first 9 months in utero, to the exclusion of all other life, they radicalized their flocks and enabled the rise of Trump. It feels so stupid and performative and insincere for them to now act like they care about immigrants. What idiot couldn't see that encouraging shoport for Trump before the election (which many of them did almost explicitly), would bring us here? It's gaslighting by abusers.
The Catholic Church hooking up with Mussolini is a sin that still needs recognition and reconciliation. Even before that, the church seemed to align itself with white supremacy. As a cradle Catholic, I’m looking forward to the day when the spirit of Christ’s teaching heals the racism and misogyny of our Church.
McElroy has absolutely no moral credibility. When he was the bishop of San Diego, he reinstated a clerical predator who raped a woman while celebrating a mass in her home. He also dismissed Richard Sipe’s concerns about predatory clergy.
“Defending“ migrants enables him to present a moral façade that hides his true character. He is no better than the Pharisees Jesus condemned in Matthew 23: white washed tombs full of dead men’s bones.
If that is true, I sadly retract my comment praising his current stand as hypocrisy. If false, then the person making the above comment should be ashamed.
I am not a Roman Catholic but during my long life (85yo), gratefully the Church has nurtured my spiritual growth and desire to help others through the social gospel (which I'd never heard of previously). This Letter from Leo is not the subject of pinning sinful behavior on Cardinal McElroy, although yes, it sounds as though he rightfully deserves it. From my view, this letter describes the Church, the entire Church led by Pope Leo, as a force determined to battle the Trump Administration's unthinkable brutality and cruelty. David Brooks, the conservative voice of clarity, recently opined in the NYT for a secular force of leaders from every walk of life to mobilize and challenge the evil mongers freely destroying everything in their path. The secular version modeled by the church, if you will. Church and secular strategies plus prayer seem to me our only hope. I give thanks to the Church for its mission to help.
Writing as a Protestant clergyman and American historian, I prayerfully commend both Pope Leo and Cardinal McElroy for their Christlike and propheticwitness for justice, righteousness, and compassion.
May their courageous and timely words be heeded and not just heard.
Powerful Gospel words…
I am so angry and resentful of all these Catholic clergy who are now bemoaning the Trump regime's abuse of immigrants. It's their mulishly single-minded focus on abortion, and their hammering home of it during every homily, that radicalized so many Catholics. I'm a cradle Catholic, taught by nuns (our beloved Presentation Sister), and I grew up with a strong social justice understanding of our faith. I know niw that our Church teaches respect for life, from conception to natural death. But with so many clergy interested in only protecting those first 9 months in utero, to the exclusion of all other life, they radicalized their flocks and enabled the rise of Trump. It feels so stupid and performative and insincere for them to now act like they care about immigrants. What idiot couldn't see that encouraging shoport for Trump before the election (which many of them did almost explicitly), would bring us here? It's gaslighting by abusers.
The Catholic Church hooking up with Mussolini is a sin that still needs recognition and reconciliation. Even before that, the church seemed to align itself with white supremacy. As a cradle Catholic, I’m looking forward to the day when the spirit of Christ’s teaching heals the racism and misogyny of our Church.
McElroy has absolutely no moral credibility. When he was the bishop of San Diego, he reinstated a clerical predator who raped a woman while celebrating a mass in her home. He also dismissed Richard Sipe’s concerns about predatory clergy.
“Defending“ migrants enables him to present a moral façade that hides his true character. He is no better than the Pharisees Jesus condemned in Matthew 23: white washed tombs full of dead men’s bones.
If that is true, I sadly retract my comment praising his current stand as hypocrisy. If false, then the person making the above comment should be ashamed.
As the young people say these days, I have the receipts:
https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/what-the-mcelroy-appointment-says-about-the-churchs-commitment-to-sex-abuse-victims
http://www.awrsipe.com/Correspondence/McElroy-2016-07-28-rev.pdf
https://www.ncregister.com/news/usccb-votes-down-resolution-encouraging-holy-see-to-release-mccarrick-files
I am not a Roman Catholic but during my long life (85yo), gratefully the Church has nurtured my spiritual growth and desire to help others through the social gospel (which I'd never heard of previously). This Letter from Leo is not the subject of pinning sinful behavior on Cardinal McElroy, although yes, it sounds as though he rightfully deserves it. From my view, this letter describes the Church, the entire Church led by Pope Leo, as a force determined to battle the Trump Administration's unthinkable brutality and cruelty. David Brooks, the conservative voice of clarity, recently opined in the NYT for a secular force of leaders from every walk of life to mobilize and challenge the evil mongers freely destroying everything in their path. The secular version modeled by the church, if you will. Church and secular strategies plus prayer seem to me our only hope. I give thanks to the Church for its mission to help.